Friday, May 15, 2009

Announcements for May 17

HIGH SCHOOL SUNDAY SCHOOL, May 17! 6:29—7:36PM, Dungeon
Brent McKinney, Pastor of Student Ministries, Teaching.
May 17 topic: 2 Timothy 3: 1—4: 8 & finishing strong.
May 24 topic: Church/Rapture/Tribulation/Reign/Eternity.

Hurricane Katrina Relief Effort, 2009: Bay St. Louis, Mississippi!
We have found a mission opportunity serving those left homeless in 2005 by Hurricane Katrina. Many volunteers are still needed as those displaced still have work that needs to be done on their homes, and you can get more information on our partnering organization at www.reliefvolunteers.com.
Trip dates: June 14—20, 2009. Cost: $100/student. Sign ups END TONIGHT! We do need adults to serve. Contact Brent@crossroadsbible.org for more information or to get a sign up sheet.

Fundraising/Support Letter information available beginning Wednesday night after communion. If you can’t be there, simply e-mail Brent on Thursday for the information to begin mailing out letters.

Wednesday Night Bible Studies, May 20.
Year-End Commuion Meeting! 7:00—8:30PM in the Dungeon.
All small groups will meet Wednesday night, please bring your dinner as well as spend Tuesday in preparing/confession so as to focus on Christ and celebrate the Supper on Wednesday night.

Check with your group leaders to see if your group is having a year-end get-together on 5/27!
May 27: Jr./Sr. Guys/Girls Part II! 7:00—8:30PM in the Dungeon.
Summer Wednesday nights will resume on June 24, 2009.

*Reminder: It was announced that the 5PM service and 6:30PM Sunday School hours were being moved to the morning. The high school Sunday School class will begin meeting during the 10:45AM service in the Dungeon beginning on June 7 (promotion Sunday)!
*14 Days Until Senior Speeches: Meeting on 5/24 after SS for preparation details.
*Servant Team Appreciation Party/Ministry Review sleepover will be on May 22. (see Charlie for full details)

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

We Have A Trip!!!

After making the decision not to go to Juarez this summer, we’ve been actively looking at alternatives for our students to serve. We’re excited to be a part of Katrina relief efforts that continue in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. You can check out the organization we’ll be partnering with here: http://www.reliefvolunteers.com.

Yes. That Hurricane Katrina. The one in 2005. Many within an hour’s drive of where we’ll be staying still have needs…and at this point, it’s often the “poorest of the poor” who need the help.

Interestingly, back in 2005, Crossroads had the opportunity to serve many of those fleeing the destruction and raised money to help out during that crisis. Our deacons have wrestled with what to do with the remaining funds that were given to that cause, and now some of those funds will give support to this trip!

So, here’s what you’ll need to know for now:

First, the trip will leave CBC on Sunday morning, June 14, 2009. We will return the early evening of Saturday, June 20, 2009. The cost per student will be $100, and we will begin sending out support letters on May 18. The cost per adult is $0. However, if you’re interested in making a donation of any amount, it would be appreciated.

Second, we do need adults to serve our students. We’ll need help with the kitchen, with driving, with construction/labor instruction, with first-aid, with organizing, etc. Simply respond to this message to sign up!

Third, we’ll begin sign ups immediately. Either today or tomorrow you will get an e-mail or message with a sign up form on it. The sign up period will end on May 17. Since they are two distinctly different trips, those that signed up for Juarez will need to sign up again for this one. And, if you didn’t sign up for Juarez, you can still sign up for this one!

Finally, thanks to all of you for your understanding and your patience in this process. It hasn’t been easy, but God has show Himself faithful, and I’m thankful for the reality that we have a chance to serve and He has graciously provided—even years ago—for this ministry to go on this trip.

Please let me know as soon as possible (if you’re a parent) your desire to go and if you’re a student, let’s get those sign ups in on time!

Friday, April 24, 2009

CBC Juarez Student Mission Trip Announcement

Dear Parents, Students and Ministry Leaders,

As you all know, the student ministry’s trip to Juarez to build homes for needy families has been a consistent event on our calendar for over a decade. The trip serves the purpose of exposing our students to world missions as well as providing our teens with a fantastic “bonding” opportunity. For many, it’s the introduction to the importance of loving our neighbors and using our blessings to serve others…a staple of our ministry emphasis over their four years of high school.

Like many of you, I’ve been reading media reports of escalating violence in Juarez in early 2009. Amor Ministries, the organization we’ve partnered with in recent years, reassigned their high school missions in Juarez to other parts of Mexico during Spring Break. This action caused us to reexamine our involvement for this year.

We assembled a group of ministry leaders at CBC, both paid staff and volunteers, and began to gather information from Amor staff, media reports, internet research and insights from people we know who work in and around Juarez. After looking at all the available information possible we began to think and pray through our decision.

After nearly six weeks of prayer and thoughtful deliberation, we believe that taking this trip to Juarez is NOT what God wants for our church or student ministry at this time. We realize the gravity of this decision, both as it affects not only our student ministry but also IMPACT 2009 and the corresponding vision CBC has for world missions. Please trust that this decision was not made lightly.

Also, we’d like for you to know that we’ve been diligent in seeking alternative ministries to take part in since early March. Thus far we’ve not been able to find a suitable ministry opportunity for our students that fits our philosophy of ministry, but we’ll continue to seek God’s will in this area and hope to find something soon. We’ll let you know as soon as possible if and when an opportunity is found. We do have a couple of strong leads, so please keep praying for what (if anything) God has for our ministry this summer.

As the Pastor of Student Ministries, I’d like to say thanks to all of you for your prayers during this time as well as for your support, encouragement, information updates, and leads on other options for trips. So many of you have been on this trip, know how deeply this ministry is needed by families in Juarez, and what a great experience it is for our students…and you know how hard it’s been as we’ve weighed the pros and cons of our decision. Again, thank you for you support and understanding.

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to direct them to me at your earliest convenience.

In His Service and Yours,



Brent McKinney
Pastor of Student Ministries
Crossroads Bible Church
Double Oak, TX 75077
(972) 355-3343

Friday, April 3, 2009

Announcements for April 5 & 12

HIGH SCHOOL SUNDAY SCHOOL, April 5! 6:29—7:36PM, Dungeon
Brent McKinney, Pastor of Student Ministries, Teaching.
Topic: Easter Time-Line, featuring the song “Because He Lives” by Lost and Found
Don’t forget: There will NOT be Sunday School on April 12 as it’s Easter Sunday!

JUAREZ TRIP UPDATE: Sign ups have begun and will end on April 8. Don’t forget that your parents MUST sign this form. To access the information letter regarding the current status of the trip, please go to http://www.cbchighschool.blogspot.com and scroll to the March 6 entry. There are links to Amor’s website and conference calls with their staff that address the current safety concerns in the city of Juarez. If you have any questions or comments, please e-mail Brent.

Sign ups begin tonight in Sunday School for the service project to set up for the Easter sunrise service at CBC. We’ll be locked in at CBC from 8PM on (everyone must get there on time and no one will be allowed to leave until after set-up for the service is complete). YOU MUST SIGN UP by e-mailing of Facebooking Brent FOR THE OVERNIGHTER by April 8 or you won’t be able to attend. We will need one female adult to help supervise, and everyone who serves will get to eat the special breakfast prepared by Bill Lee!

Wednesday Night Bible Studies, April 8.
7:00-8:30PM in these are homes:
Jr./Sr. Girls @ the Gelnett’s. 2619 Bierstadt in HV. 75077
Jr.Sr. Guys @ the McKinney’s. 5237 Prairie Creek Drive in FM. 75028
Sophomore Girls @ the Smith’s. 303 Highland Ct. in Double Oak. 75077.
Sophomore Guys @ the Short’s. 204 Colonial Court. Double Oak. 75077.
Freshman Girls @ the Baker's.3404 Brightstone in FM. 75028.
Freshman Guys @ the Richardson’s. 5101 Alexander Dr. in FM. 75028
Everybody’s welcome to hang out at Brent’s after studies on 4/8.
April 15: All Guys groups will meet at CBC at 7PM for our annual Ultimate Frisbee Game! So, we will NOT meet at Brent’s after studies on the 15th.

*Easter Services at CBC: Sunrise service, 6:30am. 8:30am, 10am & 11:30am.
*Reminder: Dixon Road (by Target & CBC) will be closed beginning March 30 until July 1. If you usually use this road to get to CBC please plan accordingly!
*61 Days Until Senior Speeches
*Servant team: Tuesday Night Discipleship meets on April 7/8.
Next senior lunch: Brent’s house on April 26. 1:00—3PM to discuss senior speeches.

Sunday, March 29, 2009

March 29 Announcements

HIGH SCHOOL SUNDAY SCHOOL, March 29! 6:29—7:36PM, Dungeon
Brent McKinney, Pastor of Student Ministries, Teaching.
Topic: Palm Sunday (Luke 19: 28—44), featuring the song “Reflection” by Lost and Found
Sunday School topic April 5: An Easter-Week Time Line
Don’t forget: There will NOT be Sunday School on April 12 as it’s Easter Sunday!

JUAREZ TRIP UPDATE: Sign ups have begun and will end on April 8. Don’t forget that your parents MUST sign this form. To access the information letter regarding the current status of the trip, please go to http://www.cbchighschool.blogspot.com and scroll to the March 6 entry. There are links to Amor’s website and conference calls with their staff that address the current safety concerns in the city of Juarez. If you have any questions or comments, please e-mail Brent.

Baptism Service: March 29. Please come to the 5PM service tonight to support Carley, Morgan, Julie, Stephen and Wes as they get baptized!

Sign ups begin tonight in Sunday School for the service project to set up for the Easter sunrise service at CBC. We’ll be locked in at CBC from 8PM on (everyone must get there on time and no one will be allowed to leave until after set-up for the service is complete). YOU MUST SIGN UP by e-mailing of Facebooking Brent FOR THE OVERNIGHTER by April 8 or you won’t be able to attend. We will need one female adult to help supervise, and everyone who serves will get to eat the special breakfast prepared by Bill Lee!

Wednesday Night Bible Studies, April 1.
7:00-8:30PM in these are homes:
Jr./Sr. Girls @ the Gelnett’s. 2619 Bierstadt in HV. 75077
Jr.Sr. Guys @ the McKinney’s. 5237 Prairie Creek Drive in FM. 75028
Sophomore Girls @ the Smith’s. 303 Highland Ct. in Double Oak. 75077.
Sophomore Guys @ the Thurmond’s. 310 Lake Trail Ct. Double Oak. 75077.
Freshman Girls @ the Baker’s. 3404 Brightstone In FM. 75028.
Freshman Guys @ the Richardson’s. 5101 Alexander Dr. in FM. 75028
Everybody’s welcome to come over to Brent’s after your small groups end!

*Easter Services at CBC: Sunrise service, 6:30am. 8:30am, 10am & 11:30am.
*Reminder: Dixon Road (by Target & CBC) will be closed beginning March 30 until July 1. If you usually use this road to get to CBC please plan accordingly!
*68 Days Until Senior Speeches
*Servant team: Tuesday Night Discipleship meets on March 31/April 1.

Friday, March 6, 2009

Juarez Trip Update

Dear CBC Parents,

Like many of you, I’ve been hearing/reading news reports from Juarez, Mexico that have referred to rising levels of violence. Obviously, this is concerning to those of us who are planning to be a part of our annual mission trip to build homes June 13-20, 2009. I’ve gathered from your e-mails that rumors abound. It’s my desire to quell the speculation and let you know where the leadership of Crossroads Bible Church stands.

First of all, it is true that Amor Ministries has re-directed high school mission trips for the months of March and April, 2009. This has affected some churches in our area as their student trips were postponed. I do feel it’s important for you to know that Amor took this action because of parental perception of the dangers rather than any actual danger their teams have experienced. Their college/adult trips are continuing as planned during these months.

Second, rest assured that we are actively monitoring the situation by talking to our contacts who cross the border daily as well as through “live chats” (you can read their official response to the U.S. Government Mexico Travel Advisory--NOT WARNING-- here)and on-line “conference calls” (you can listen to the audio of that call here)that Amor has provided in which they address the issues of major concern to churches and youth ministries. The Amor response has links to the official U.S. government web page.

Finally, know that it is our intent to do the very best we can to ensure the safety of our students. No trip or experience is worth putting their well-being at risk.

We are aware of most of the concerns and are evaluating our options through Amor in Juarez accordingly. We have assembled a committee consisting of CBC staff, mission board representatives and elders who will make a decision on this trip as soon as possible. We plan to communicate what we know at a PARENT’S ONLY meeting on March 22, 2009, at 10:45AM in the Dungeon. If you have any questions, that would be an excellent opportunity to ask those directly. Please plan on attending this meeting.

One last thing: We are actively looking at alternatives should Amor continue their current policy regarding students or should we decide it to be unwise for us to go to Juarez this year

Again, thank you for your concern. It’s comforting to know that so many of you are concerned for CBC’s involvement in world missions as well as serving our student ministry by providing us with information you come across. I’d invite you to pray for our leadership as we seek God’s will regarding this opportunity.


Brent McKinney
Pastor of Student Ministries

March 8, 2009 Announcements

Senior Lunch at Brent’s house: March 8. 1:02PM—2:37PM. Bring $3 in paper money exact change for Kentucky Fried Chicken lunch & a brainstorming session we need your help with!

HIGH SCHOOL SUNDAY SCHOOL, March 8! 6:29—7:36PM, Dungeon
Brent McKinney, Pastor of Student Ministries, Teaching.
Topic: Law vs. Grace, Part 1, continuing Key Passages for those that have CBC in their DNA
Tonight: Romans 6—8, featuring Lost and Found song “Convinced”

Wednesday Night Bible Studies Mar 11.
7:00-8:30PM (unless otherwise designated by your small group leaders) in these are homes:
Jr./Sr. Girls @ the Gelnett’s. 2619 Bierstadt in HV. 75077
Jr.Sr. Guys @ the McKinney’s. 5237 Prairie Creek Drive in FM. 75028
Sophomore Girls @ the Smith’s. 303 Highland Ct. in Double Oak. 75077.
Sophomore Guys @ the Thurmond’s. 310 Lake Trail Ct. Double Oak. 75077.
Freshman Girls @ the Sileo’s, 2905 Hornby Lane. in FM. 75022.
Freshman Guys @ the Richardson’s. 5101 Alexander Dr. in FM. 75028
Everybody’s welcome to come over to Brent’s after your small groups end!
DON’T FORGET THAT IN-HOME SMALL GROUPS WILL NOT MEET ON MARCH 18 AS IT IS SPRING BREAK. GROUPS RESUME ON MARCH 25!

PINE COVE SERVICE WEEKEND: David & Jacque Felan will be leading the trip and the team will leave from CBC’s south parking lot at 6PM Friday (3/13). Please arrive at 5:30PM (eat first) if you’re signed so we can pack vans. The cost=$15 per student (please bring exact change). Vans return to CBC approximately 3:30PM on Sunday afternoon (3/15).

Spring break job opportunity: Don’t forget to contact Maryam at fossilpointe.net ASAP if you’re going to take the job opportunity on March 20-22 (they need help from 7:30am to 4:00pm each day) during spring break that involves guns & golf carts.

JUAREZ TRIP UPDATE: Please read the note above. Every day, we get an e-mail from parents regarding the trip and this should get all of you up-to-date.

*89 Days Until Senior Speeches

*Parents of the Senior Class of 2009: Second organizational meeting (MARCH 8 at 4PM in room 202) for the senior reception that will be held on Sunday June 7th from 2 to 4pm. We need your help to be sure that all seniors are honored and help in planning is appreciated. For more information, please contact Page Boudreaux at 972-317-8342 or boudreauxs@juno.com.

*Servant team: Tuesday Night Discipleship WILL NOT MEET on March 17 or 18 as it’s LISD’s spring break.